A 75 year old Deacon of a Richland church has been convicted of molesting 2 grade-school aged girls and sentenced.

That man, Robert G. DaValle, will spend the minimum term of 5 years and 7 months in prison after pleading guilty of two counts of first-degree child molestation, according to reports.

The defense asked fo the judge to award a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative that would have allowed DaValle to serve time outside of jail and get help.

The judge declined and gave DaValle a normal sentence for his conviction.

DaValle was caught when one of the victims admitted to being toughed by the Deacon when she was younger. The Richland police were told and the investigation was started. The other girl in the case told her parents and they alerted the police.

DaValle admitted his crimes to police and then pleaded guilty. This is his first conviction.

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